 | |  | | | Panasonic BB-HCM511A Network Camera with Two-Way Audio | | | | | SKU:
VEN12-PA-BBHCM511A | | In Stock | | Availability:
Usually ships in 1 business days | | Only 2 left in stock, order soon! | | | | | | Network Camera with 2-Way Audio. Use of the built-in microphone and a separately purchased amp-equipped speaker enables two-way voice communication2 (transceiver system) between the network camera and a PC used to monitor the camera image. In addition to conventional monitoring of images and sound, voice messages can be transmitted from the PC to the network camera. Voice transmission and reception can be switched easily from the PC used to monitor the image. | | | |
List Price:
| $599.95 | |
Our Price:
| $329.95
& this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.
| |
You Save:
| $270.00 (45%)
|
| | |
|
| | Product Details | | Product Length: | 8.7 inches | | Product Width: | 9.9 inches | | Product Height: | 7.4 inches | | Product Weight: | 0.73 pounds | | Package Length: | 9.8 inches | | Package Width: | 8.5 inches | | Package Height: | 7.4 inches | | Package Weight: | 2.5 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 20 reviews |
|  |
| | Features | Two-Way Voice CommunicationSD Memory Card RecordingPower over Ethernet
| |
| | Customer Reviews | Average Customer Review: ( 20 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 found the following review helpful:
 No support for audio without InternetExplorer Feb 25, 2010
By Phillip R. Hamilton
Overall it is a nice product. My complaints so far are poor documentation for multiple camera configuration and the requirement of ActiveX for audio support.
If you have multiple cameras, the documentation for configuring this is poor. What you need to know is that each camera needs to be assigned a different IP address AND a different TCP port number. If you have 2 cameras, one can be 192.168.1.252:50252 and the other 192.168.1.253:50253 (for example). You can use the local address when accessing at home. When not at home, you will use your external fixed IP address plus each port to identify the cameras individually. Single camera setup is easy and the supplied software does it for you. But to have multiple cameras it is better to assign static addresses and port numbers as described above.
My second complaint is more serious than poor documentation. The audio feature requires ActiveX and thus will only work on Microsoft Windows OS with Internet Explorer. If you have Linux, Mac or even use Mozilla as your browser on MS Windows, you won't have any audio.
42 of 45 found the following review helpful:
 Best mix of image quality, features, and price Feb 22, 2009
By FlyingPolarBear
For a while the Panasonic BL-C111a and BL-C131a were my favorite of the Panasonic lineup for monitoring the pets and vacation house. Now I discovered the BB-HCM511A and this amazing little cam is THE BEST! It has a 1/4" CCD detector instead of a 1/6" CMOS in many of the other models. I can get a night time view of the ranch because the CMOS goes down to 0.2 lux instead of 3 lux. That's about the limit of human night vision, or a moonlit night. I couldn't do that before with the BL-C111a cam that this replaced. Also the CMOS sensor has much better dynamic range, which simply means more colors. So whereas with the BL-C111a the shades of green on the plants look flat, the BB-HCM5111a gives the scene much more definition with all different shades: slightly bluish green, slightly reddish green etc. and this has the visual effect as if it had greater resolution. I love the PoE feature because I can just run a network cable without running a separate power cable. To take advantage of this you need a cheap PoE injector or a fancier switch that supports PoE. I use the SMC GS8P-Smart switch for PoE, which is a newer model router with good reviews. I also use the CoconutView Vista sidebar gadget so I can always see all of my Panasonic cams on my desktop. To download this gadget go to the Microsoft Windows Live Gallery on the web and search for CoconutView or Panasonic. There's also an outdoor model, the BB-HCM531a but it's almost twice as expensive and from the installation manual it appears that the BB-HCM531a just has a cover on the back that you screw on and tape over the cables to protect the connectors from moisture. So I think this one is a better value for placing under eaves and protected outdoor sites, unless your plan to install it where it will be directly exposed to pouring rain. Ok just buy it, you will be happy with this cam.
20 of 21 found the following review helpful:
Full Featured Webcam Feb 14, 2009
By Bernard J. Joy
"Bernard J. Joy, CPM"
This Panasonic Network Camera had the features that I wanted. Allow me to warn you, there is no zoom, however, you can switch from a default resolution of 320x240 to 640 X 480. Unless you are prepared to pay a much larger price, the zooms you get will be digital and not optical. That means the picture will be bigger, but it will also be grainier. Second, set-up required a call to technical support, however, Panasonic was great and it was up and running in under an hour. Panasonic provides a free webservice for this camera as well as most if not all of their network cameras. The necessary software is housed in the camera!! Once you configure web access, you have the option of sharing the URL with friends and family (up to 50). As each person hits the URL, they are presented with a password dialog. I set up two guest accounts that have differing levels of control over the camera. I grant no one the ability to tilt or pan and no one can listen. Even with those limitations, many of my associates tune into my puppy cam and watch the show. There is an integrated microphone that is good enough for most purposes. By attaching an inexpensive pair of computer speakers, you gain the ability to speak through the camera. I once caught my Doberman digging in the carpet. When she heard my voice come out of the blue and tell her to stop, she jumped, looked around, and STOPPED digging.
With my administrative password, I have full control of the camera and I've been able to put my mind at ease concerning my pets. This camera is really intended as a Security Camera and it would do a great job for that purpose as well. The web interface allows for simultaneous viewing of multiple cameras. Before you blow half the price on a camera that looks "high tech" but is not reliable and can't pan or tilt as far, I suggest that you look carefully at the specs of the cameras side by side. If you can afford it, this is a great camera. If you want to view images in Hi-Def, you can do that... for about a thousand dollars more. If you want an opticial Zoom, expect to pay $700+ for your camera. I'm very satisfied.
16 of 17 found the following review helpful:
Great private security camera Jul 21, 2009
By Bob T.
I've tried four different Panasonic webcams as well as some from other vendors, and this one is the best and well worth the price. I put a 16GB SDHC Trancender memory card in it, and can buffer 3964 20-sec 320x240 video clips or 2615 10-sec 640x480 clips. I have three motion triggers set up: the first buffers local video clips; the second sends me an email with a 320x240 image with a 10-minute time-out between emails; and the third buffers 640x480 still images. The last one has already buffered 111,321 640x480 images in addition to the stored video.
The night color vision option is fantastic. It automatically switches to a more sensitive mode when the light level drops. I can place small nite lights around the house rather than leaving the main lights on all night.
I also have a log of all camera activity from each camera emailed to me every day at midnight. A problem with the logs is that only the last 50 events are stored and included in the email. A single pet-sitter visit can easily generate more than 50 triggered events. Since you can only have one copy of the logs emailed to you each day per camera, the number of events in the log should be enough to cover the entire day. I called Panasonic about it and they told me that the alarm logs were limited to 50, and that I could change my trigger settings or have each trigger email me. I explained to them why both of those options would not work for me. This is a serious design problem with this camera.
I recently took a trip and found out that my pet-sitter was not doing the job I hired her to do. Since I will be traveling world-wide quite a bit in the next year, I am going to expand my system to the full 16 cameras to monitor my entire house while I am gone. I have 8 cameras now, and have not experienced any problems with bandwidth.
I also have a Brinks/Broadview system with entry and motion detection, but it's really nice to be able to look at any part of my house and know what is or has gone on there from anywhere, anytime.
I do wish this camera was a little less conspicuous, but otherwise it is a great security camera! My biggest fear is that someone will break in and steal my cameras, along with their internal memory; however, I am working on a way to send the buffered videos to an offsite location, in addition to the current emailed images.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Panasonic Net Cams are well built & LIFETIME SUPPORT!!! Sep 13, 2010
By T. Cayton
"photographer"
Unless you read the reviews prior to purchasing, the first thing you will do after opening the box is to be surprised that the AC adaptor is not present. Apparently that is Panasonic's approach to cut costs. The power adaptor nor the cat5 network plug is included. One of these is required to power the device. If you choose to power up using only the network cable, you will also need a POE (Power over Ethernet) hub. If you don't own one (this is not just your typical hub), than be prepared to pay another $50. Save yourself time and money - order both the camera and AC adaptor together unless you already own a POE hub and your committed to buy this camera. If you choose the AC route, Panasonic requests you only use their adaptor. The item number is BB-HCA3A.
In terms of setup, required multiple calls to Panasonic tech support to get both my older and newer Panasonic camera's working on MicroSoft Internet Explorer (the fix was I needed to set "allow active content to run on file on my computer" checkbox in the tools, Internet options, advanced, security tab). I'm now able see both cams on Pansonic's viewnetcam site, and it provides nice views.
Note the HCM511 camera is not wireless like the BL-C131A, which surprised me based on the higher price for this model. What the 511 does provide is two way audio, which I really wanted for the second cam, but the wireless capability would have made it much better. Also, note that you either talk or listen, dual (asynchronous) communication is not available and requires switching between the two with some delay. More surprising, I'm finding the resolution and night time vision to be the same for both cameras. I expected improvements in this area based on a newer and more costly model. Oh well, I do like the capability to view 6 cameras on one monitor. However, if you don't need the two way audio and are already invested with Pansonic, pick one of their more reasonably priced wireless network cameras.
Update on July 1st,2011: I changed my router and needed to reconfigure my two Panosonic network cameras. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Panasonic provided telephone support even after I owned the product for more than two years - looks like they provide free lifetime support! That is very cool. Just make sure you buy the camera that is right for you.
See all 20 customer reviews on Amazon.com
| |
| |
| |  | |  |
|
